Arab MK: Thank Me for Allowing Jews in Israel

Hanin Zoabi, appearing on the Knesset TV Channel, says she should be thanked for "allowing Jews to stay in her homeland."

Ari Yashar, 01/11/13 13:38

MK Zoabi

Israel news photo: Flash 90

On Tuesday, Arab MK Hanin Zoabi (Balad) appeared on the Knesset TV Channel, and made a provocative statement that she should be thanked for "allowing Jews to stay in my homeland."

The comment came during the opening of her interview on the show "Political Bug," hosted by Nehama Douek, and just a week after Zoabi received a mere 10.4% of the vote while running for Mayor of Nazareth, a post longtime incumbent Ali Salam won by a narrow margin over Ramiz Jaraisi.

This is not the first time her loyalties to Israel, which defines itself as the Jewish state, have been questioned.

Zoabi infamously took part in the Marmara flotilla in 2010 which illegally attempted to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. IDF soldiers were attacked by activists on one of the ships and forced to defend themselves.

Just this August, Zoabi stated that she doesn't regret taking part in the flotilla which broke the laws of the country she represents, even as evidence proved she knew in advance of the planned attack against Israeli soldiers.

Former MK Michael Ben Ari, in response to the statement, wrote on his Facebook page "who didn't send a thank you letter to the terrorist Zoabi?" He went on to add "it's us or them" in the name of Rabbi Meir Kahane, an outspoken Zionist and MK in the mid 1980s who was assassinated by an Arab terrorist in 1990.

In early October the Supreme Court rejected a petition calling for the condemnation or banning of Zoabi from running for a second term in the Knesset on the basis of her involvement in a terrorist act.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu officially apologized to Turkey in March for the soldiers' actions in defending themselves aboard the Marmara and began discussions around compensation for the families of those killed in the attack.

At least one "victim" designated to receive compensation stated he would send the money to terrorist organizations. A survey found 71% of Israelis felt the apology to Turkey was a mistake.